The City of Brighton has rolled out the names of the top contenders for its 2025 Traffic Box Mural Project, with five adult finalists and one youth finalist having their designs shortlisted. Brighton's streets are set to receive a fresh coat of creativity as these artists plan to visually transform the everyday traffic signal boxes into something more akin to public expression canvases.
After an open call earlier this year that attracted over 100 submissions, the city has narrowed down the list to a select few. The shortlisted artists are David Swartz, with his work "Reach"; Sabu Watanabe III, portraying "Mountain Life"; Kelsi Nicholson, who brings "Sunflower Field" to life; Deborah Ewing, whose "Butterflies" may soon flit around the streets; and Samantha Pascavis, inviting residents to gaze upon her "Fawns in the Field." Adding to these is a strong representation of the younger generation, with youth finalist Alexandra Grein, an eighth grader, who could soon storm the art scene with her piece "Storm of the Game."
The promotion of this initiative saw a significant engagement from the local community, who were eager to cast their votes. The public voting session saw approximately 750 votes during its weeklong duration, a testament to the community's vested interest in the aesthetics of their environment and the celebration of local talent. The selected artworks, as announced on the City of Brighton website, are expected to decorate the city for at least two years following their installation this summer.
For residents curious to preview the potential new landmarks of their daily commutes, the City of Brighton has made the selected art and artist information accessible online.
